Ruth Agatha Houghton

Captain Ruth Agatha Houghton (June 29, 1909 – March 10, 1986) was an American nurse who served as the Director of the United States Navy Nurse Corps between 1958 and 1962.

Early life

Houghton was born in 1909, the daughter of Joseph J. and Mary Houghton Kelley.^[1] In 1932 she graduated from St. John's Hospital School of Nursing in Lowell, Massachusetts.^[2] She also attended George Washington University, Boston University, and The Catholic University of America, and holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in nursing.

Navy Nurse Corps career

Houghton was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy Nurse Corps on June 1, 1935. During her years of service, her duty stations included the Canal Zone, Australia, and New Guinea.^[2]

From 1935 to 1936 Houghton was assigned to Naval Hospital, New York, NY, then transferred to Naval Hospital, Newport, RI where she was assigned from 1936 to 1942. Subsequent assignments included Naval Hospital, Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone, Naval Hospital, Puget Sound, Naval Hospital, Corona, CA. During WWII she filled the billet of Chief Nurse at the Naval Training School, Cedar Rapids, IA and then, in July 1943 was assigned as Chief Nurse, Echo Base Hospital #10, Sydney, Australia and promoted to LCDR. In August 1944 she took the job of Chief Nurse, Base Hospital #13, New Guinea. In 1945 she was assigned as Nurse Indoctrination Instructor, Philadelphia Naval Hospital, then traveled to Klamath Falls, OR, and Portsmouth, NH. In 1946 Houghton was assigned to Nursing Division, BUMED as a Detail Officer for the Nurse Corps.

Houghton became the Senior nurse corps Officer, Navy Medical Unit, Tripler Army General Hospital in Hawaii in 1950. She subsequently served as Chief Nurse at San Diego Naval Hospital in 1952 and as Chief Nurse, Bethesda Naval Hospital in 1954. She became the first Navy nurse other than the Director to be promoted to the rank of Captain in 1957. In 1958 she assumed the role of Director of the Navy Nurse Corps.^[2] Houghton retired on May 1, 1962.

Education

Houghton earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing Education from Boston College in 1951. She later earned a master of science degree in Nursing from Catholic University in America, Washington, D. C..^[2]

Later life

Houghton died in March 1986 in Portsmouth, Virginia at the age of 76.^[3]

References

Further reading

• Sterner, Doris M. (1997). In and Out of Harm's Way: A history of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. Seattle, WA: Peanut Butter Publishing. ISBN 0-89716-706-6. 
• Ebbert, Jean and Marie-Beth Hall (1999). Crossed Currents: Navy Women from WWI to Tailhook [Revised]. Washington, D.C.: Brassey's. ISBN 978-1-57488-193-6. 
• Godson, Susan H. (2001). Serving Proudly: A history of Women in the U.S. Navy. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-317-6.  Fact filled, extensively researched account of the evolution of the roles of women in the United States Navy, treating the parallel and intertwined paths of the Navy Nurse Corps and the WAVES. About one-third of the pages are devoted to notes and bibliography.

External links

• Nurses and the U.S. Navy -- Overview and Special Image Selection Naval Historical Center